‘We now don’t even have money to eat’

Ashesh and Shivangi Mehta; (right) Oberoi Esquire in Goregaon, the couple’s residence

My bank accounts were seized last month after a random company claimed that we owe them Rs 200 crore. While the case is in court, we don't have money to eat," said Ashesh Mehta, who along with his wife Shivangi, is named in a drugs case in Madhya Pradesh. While they insist it's a frame-up, an alleged drug trafficker claimed he transported drugs for the couple. The man, a driver, was caught after Chhattisgarh police found a truck full of marijuana in 2021.

The Mehtas have been in hiding since the Madhya Pradesh police arrived in the city last month to question them in a case they filed after nabbing an alleged drug courier, identified as Nisar Khan, 39, on June 6. Khan told the cops that he was delivering the 142 gram of mephedrone (MD) worth Rs 17 lakh for the Mehtas.

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mid-day reported about the allegations against the couple from a posh high-rise in Goregaon on June 16. Over a month later, according to sources, a 28-year-old truck driver sent a memorandum to Gendatola police station in Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh, claiming he worked for the Mehtas.

The memorandum allegedly sent to the police by the Haryana truck driver; Ashesh and Shivangi Mehta, the Goregaon couple

In 2021, the Gendatola police filed an FIR after seizing 1,760-kg marijuana worth R88 lakh from a truck being driven by Praveen alias Pradhan. Praveen had left and fled after it got stuck on a muddy road. When the Gendatola cops checked the truck, they found bags of marijuana under sacks of salt.

The police later traced the truck owner Satpal Singh and Praveen to Haryana and arrested them. According to cops, they hail from Jhanjhar district in Haryana.

According to the memorandum, Praveen claimed that he would transport drugs from Odisha to Agra and Delhi for the Mehtas and got paid R5 lakh for each drop. Praveen would deliver the drugs to the couple's men in Agra and Delhi, he claimed, adding that he would contact Ashesh and Shivangi via WhatsApp calls.

Senior Inspector Om Prakash Dhuru, Gendatola police station, however, said they have not received any memorandum from Praveen.

Frame-up for money

Speaking to mid-day, Ashesh said, "I have never met any such guy, nor have I visited Chhattisgarh.

This is a complete frame-up by some people to take away my hard earned money."

"A random company, with whom I have no ties, approached our bank last month with some arbitration complaint, which indicated that I had borrowed R200 crore from them in cash. They claimed that I failed to pay them back, and asked for my account to be confiscated and the entire money transferred into their account. The bank grew suspicious about the complaint and seized bank accounts. I am fighting this case in the court now.

"Today, my wife and I are running from pillar to post to prove our innocence. We don't even have enough money to eat. We had never seen such a bad day in our life before. It is the most painful days for us," Ashesh added.

According to Mehtas, soon after the MP police visited them, they left their home to face the investigators. "However, on the way, the first advocate they hired said the police might arrest us under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act if we went to them. We are simple people and had not faced police investigations before, nor was there a single case against us until last month. We followed the advocate's instructions and waited for him to apply for anticipatory bail. The bail got rejected and our arrest is now evident. We were left with no choice, [but to stay hidden]," he said.

The couple said they are ready to face the investigation and that they have nothing to hide. Ashesh claimed that Shivangi has nothing to do with any of his business.

"Ashesh and Shivangi are innocent. They are ready to cooperate with all the agencies, provided there is an assurance that they will not be arrested on fraudulent allegations," their advocate Hemant Ingle said.

Message to investors

Ashesh, who is a digital currency enthusiast and a businessman, said he wants to assure his investors that their money is safe in the bank. "I am unable to return your [investors] money because the bank has frozen my accounts.

"I know this is your lifetime earning, but believe me, I will not let your money sink. As soon as the bank releases my accounts, I will transfer your money instantly. I am going through a very difficult time; I am completely innocent, and with your blessings, I will definitely come out of this case," he said in a message to the investors.

Fake arbitration to bank

According to Ingle, Denron Rea-it Trade Private Limited has filed a fake and frivolous arbitration complaint against Bliss Consultants - a stock broking firm owned by the Mehtas. They gave the bank the complaint last month, after the allegations surfaced, and it is dated August 21, 2021, he added.

"The alleged complaint was never served upon Mehta in any manner whatsoever and he had no knowledge of the alleged proceedings. Ashesh Mehta is not aware of any such proceedings or any such agreement. He learnt about the alleged arbitration proceedings for the first time after receiving the documents through WhatsApp groups. Ashesh is a victim of a fraud by Denron.

"Even before the arbitration complaint, Ashesh had transferred to investors their respective investments. It is only because of the fraud perpetrated by Denron and its directors that Ashesh is unable to return the investments made by the respective investors. In fact, he is ready and willing to return the investments made by the respective investors if the court order is set aside. An affidavit to that effect is filed in the Bombay High Court, stating clearly that Bliss Consultants will return the money of the investors.

"Upon inspection of documents filed by Denron, it has occurred that the orders filed in Pune court by them are absolutely forged and false documents. Upon inquiries, we have found out that the address given by Denron is fake and no office existed at the address furnished by Denron," Ingle said.